We're No Barcelona and I'm Fine With That

Exhibition matches have been getting some airplay and publicity here in the States. The World Football Challenge, as it’s been dubbed for theatrics and drama, has gathered a fair amount of viewers and match-goers. That’s because lots has changed in the landscape of football here in America. A change that is headed in a positive direction. So with all the tours going on, fans are flocking to venues – well, not for City matches – and taking in the beautiful game. If you’re overseas and have been watching via links or even if you’re Stateside and have been watching on ESPN or FSC, you’ve no doubt heard the commentators, sponsors, advertisers, and programs hyping up the biggest game of the entire exhibition summer – Manchester United vs. Barcelona.

One can argue – because anyone can argue – that these two clubs, the most successful in both of their respective countries, are the best teams on the planet. For me, there really is no debate. It’s a fact. We are, far and away, the two best teams in the universe. And as much as it pains me to say it, Barcelona is the better of the two. They had our number in the CL Final in 2009 and they had our number this year, too. They ooze class and skill that many teams can only hope to emulate. Pundits fawn all over them. Messi can do no wrong. Their MF has immunity from any and all criticism. Xavi and Iniesta are untouchable. Really, we’ve heard it all. Included in that all is the fact that some of our fans won’t be happy until we’re better than them. Each prospective signing gets the up and down evaluation on how they’ll help us be a team like Barcelona. It eats them alive to the point of near dementia.

I just don’t think we can approach our team that way. There is only one Barcelona, and they are in Spain. We see them in friendly competitions during the summers and during an unlucky draw in CL competition. Sure, I would love to crush them when we play. I would’ve loved to be the champions of England and champions of Europe. Who wouldn’t? But, we can’t get carried away with trying to mold our team, - 19 time champions of England – after a team that we won’t be guaranteed to see at least twice a season on a home and away.  We’ve made our own success by being a team that others want to be like. Fergie has done an immaculate job of picking players – even ones that we wonder about (Chicharito, most recently) – and making us competitive. I’m sure he wants to beat Barcelona when we play them. Who wouldn’t? But, the most important focus is on our league. We hunkered down, focused on the BPL, and took home our 19^th title.

Fergie alters the squad when he sees fit, never once thinking, “Oh, we should look like Barcelona on the pitch." La Liga is a different animal. We always hear, “Well, can Messi do it on a rainy night in Stoke?” The fact is, maybe he can’t. But there’s no denying his ability or the ability of Barcelona. In that same vain, that doesn’t mean we need to be Barcelona. We’re a more physical team, but within the BPL, we’re a finesse team, too. We have solid defenders like Vidic, who’ll make you soil yourself if you’re within 60 yards of him. Our MF needs attention, but we’ve always had a MF that creates, tracks, and holds. “Can United score?...They always score!” is around for a reason. We’ve had some of the best scorers in the world on our team – players like Cantona, Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Rooney, Beckham, Best, Charlton, Law, etc.

All of these elements make us the team we are today. And all of these elements don’t work together if we’re trying to be some other team. Our success has come by doing it our own way. So why try and be like some other team? Come Saturday at FedEx Field, there are going to be 97,000 fans flocking to see the two best clubs on the planet play a football match. I’m sure all the Barcelona fans will taunt and cheer, and give me the business about how they’ve had our number. But that’s okay, I’m happy to support my club. A club that other clubs want to be like – not the other way around. Sure, we’re no Barcelona, and I’m fine with that.

Follow Jason on Twitter at @JasTheDevil

United’s Magical Month Abroad – Why They’re Stateside

Like the other thousands upon thousands of United supporters here in the States, I was excited to see that our team was coming to my city. Us Yanks wake up early every weekend for 9 months to see our team play some 4,000 miles away. We don our kits and our scarves in the wee hours of the morning, attempting – but failing miserably – to keep the decibel level at a minimum for the other people in the house who are rightfully sleeping at that time of day. Our TVs are turned down, but that doesn’t matter because we provide our own color commentary to more than make up for it. We feel like we are right there – at Old Trafford or White Hart Lane or Anfield or Stamford Bridge or Craven Cottage or even Liberty Stadium as of this year. It isn’t often that we get the chance to be a part of the live action, so we relish the opportunity to see the exhibition matches when they tour the US. Whether it’s a father taking his son to see the match or a football loving family all going to experience United football together; these matches definitely mean more to us, the lot who doesn’t see them in the flesh week in and week out, than to our brothers and sisters across the pond. But let’s not let nostalgia and a few pints get us deluded over the true reason behind these exhibition matches – exposure, fitness, and team cohesiveness.

Sure, we’d all love to say that Rooney had his best game in a United kit here in the States, which statistically very well may be the case, but when there are no stakes, it rightly diminishes the significance of a hat trick in 20 mins. Still, I would’ve loved to say I was at that match, even be able to tell my kids and my kids’ kids about it, but I understand and appreciate the reason why they’re here. Hell, I’d go and watch United train at a high school gym and be giddy like a kid who might get lucky after his senior prom. But knowing that my team is affording me the luxury of seeing them play live, stay in shape (or get fit – ahem, Anderson), provide exposure to the team, and the beautiful game is well enough for me.

The 3-month window between May and August seems excruciatingly long for diehard fans, but it’s surprisingly short when you factor in international duty, the saga of the transfer window, and, if we’re lucky enough, a US tour. The players couldn’t sit around for 3 months and eat bangers and mash waiting for the kick off in early August. They need to stay fit, stay together, stay a team. This transfer window, our busiest one in many moons, saw some additions that we’re all eager to see. 3 months, if they’re signed right after season’s end, is the most time these players will have to mesh with the team before the new season kicks off. As the window gets closer to closing, as it now is, there’s even less time to get them acclimated to life in a United kit. This summer we got Phil Jones early, then Ashley Young, then David de Gea. On top of that, we have other players who are fighting for regular first team action who SAF needs to see in game situations. Keep them, loan them out, sell them? All things that a US tour affords.  Accompany that with the duty and burden of expanding a brand and global image, Manchester United has a busy and hectic 3 months to put all this together.

Proper business and marketing plans can take years and several millions of dollars to set forth, organize, and implement. And while this tour was ironed out long ago, there is only about 1 month to maximize exposure while they’re here in the States. The YouTube video of the tour bus stopping to sign shirts was absolutely priceless and a savvy business play – and it cost nothing. Players obligingly sign and smile, they train in front of fans, they make appearances - something I’m sure they don’t do when they’re back in England. It’s all a ploy, but if it allows me a picture or an autograph - something that I’ll cherish forever - I’m all for it. And while they’re getting exposure here in the States, they’re also getting exposure amongst themselves. Spending a compact month with your teammates pretty much 24 hours a day – old ones or new transfers – bands the team together.

So, in the end, tickets are sold and smiles are had all around, but a US tour is definitely a strategic mix of staying fit, meshing with your team, and getting your name out. Now, if you ask the 50,000 fans in New England, or the 68,000 in Seattle, or the 61,000 in Chicago, or the 25,000+ in New York, or the 97,000 fans in DC, they won’t much care. Because when they get home after their match with a new scarf or Chicharito jersey or an autograph or a picture with their favorite player, they’ll only remember the reason why they went in the first place – because we all love Manchester United. And for Manchester United, that in itself is reason enough for a US tour, regardless of anything else.

Follow Jason on Twitter at @JasTheDevil

Post picture courtesy of ManUtd.com.

The Men On Our Front Line – United’s Not So Apparent Crisis

(Written July 15th, 2011)

For some time now, we’ve all known that Paul Scholes – and even Giggs, eventually – would retire. We’ve panicked ourselves into dementia about who would replace him, who would be as creative as him, who could guarantee a booking like him. Well, not the last one, but we wanted someone strong and creative to cement our midfield like Paul Scholes did in his heyday. Many fans had tunnel vision about who we’d get in the midfield to replace our Ginger Ninja. They’d lock their sights on someone and the rumor mill would start churning. First, we got Jones, who could be a good DMF for us. Then we got Young, a prospect that I was not only thrilled about, but something I had been hoping for. And for months, we’ve been linked with Nasri, Modric, and now, Sneijder – all supposed Scholesy replacements. Nasri and Sneijder have the creativity we severely lacked last year. Modric, for me, mixes some holding with some box-to-box creativity. Every day there’s something new, and the Twitter world does nothing to lessen the hysteria. But lost amongst this midfield frenzy that we’ve wrapped ourselves into is another huge issue that some have overlooked – our forward line. Now, hear me out.

Our star last year – amongst many – was Chicharito. The boy wonder burst onto the scene and netted 20 goals in his debut season for us. He scored some weird goals (Community Shield), some that defy physics (Stoke match), and some that all but secured us the PL title (opening minute vs Chelsea). He’s been a machine for us and some say he’s already a legend at OT. With that said, his sophomore season will be an even bigger test for him considering the type of debut season he just had. Coming in, for 6 million pounds, there were zero expectations. People had no idea why SAF even signed him. Then, one by one, Hernandez started netting goals and converting the non-believers. By season’s end, the boy was almost a God to the faithful and rightfully so. He had long since replaced Berbatov as the go-to up front with Rooney, a partnership that was almost fantasy like. But, this new season has the weight of the Premier League trophy on our backs, right next to the ever-looming target that Manchester United always carries. Personally, I hope that he can continue his streak into the 2011-2012 campaign, but I can’t expect it to be guaranteed. He’s a magnet in front of the goal and he finds a way to score like a natural scorer does, a la Michael Owen. He has the humility and level head of someone much older than him and he absolutely loves playing for our club, an intangible asset long since forgotten in professional football. When he kisses the badge, I kiss my badge, too. But, let’s stay grounded. Had he not performed as well as he did, there would still be limited expectations on his 23 year old shoulders. It’s not unrealistic to assume that he might have some hiccups this season with all the hype he has surrounding him, a la Rooney two seasons ago, and we can’t be quick to call for his head if that’s the case. Which leads me to my next point, Wayne Rooney.

Two seasons ago, Rooney had the best season he’ll ever have. The boy single handedly kept us at the top of the table, but his form went by the wayside and people wanted his head. Going all the way back to the CL exit against Bayern Munich, Rooney had a terrible spell of biblical proportions. A no-show at the World Cup, then his infidelity scandal, and Rooneygate. Whatever the reasons were, he simply couldn’t carry the team like he did. One season, great. The next season, almost gone. With the emergence of Hernandez, Rooney’s role was reinvented. He started dropping deep to take the ball and distribute. Personally, I favor this role for him. He’s a footballer, no doubt, but I think the seasons of (almost) Golden Boots aren’t in his future. Even during that stellar season, I knew that it would all come to an end, at some point. Now, he’s creating, moving, distributing – all allowing Hernandez to do what he does. The issue I see here is that SAF likes options and right now, we’re relying on those two too much. Sure, we have Berbatov, a retention that I was very happy about, but you simply can’t exchange Berbatov for one component of Chicharoo. The dynamics aren’t there and the partnership is completely different.  People point at the CL Final against Barcelona and the he-said, she-said about why Berbatov wasn’t even watching (from the bench). Even when he did get appearances in the last 4 or 5 months of the season, he threw little tantrums on the field, pointing fingers and flailing arms. Combine that with the disparity between his first two seasons and his third (almost matched his total goals last season – 21 vs 26), and who knows what we’ll get when he’s on the pitch. Don’t get me wrong, Berbatov is a damn genius and I know we might not have won the league without him last year, but the inconsistency we saw in the first two seasons might creep back into play, especially if he doesn’t see regular action. But, what do we do? What options do we have?

The answer is: We really don’t have that many options. Aside from Hernandez, Rooney, and Berbatov, our attacking line is a bit lean. We’ve loaned out Bebe (who has scored in his first two matches with Besiktas), but there’s no way he would’ve been ready for regular first team action. Diouf looked as lost against the New England Revolution as he did last year versus the same MLS competition. He’s not ready. We’ve got Kiko back from a disastrous loan spell at Sampdoria, and despite his two goals in the first match of the US Tour, I’m not sure if he’s ready for first team action. If he is, how does he fit? What I’m most excited about is having Danny Welbeck back from Sunderland. When he first hit the pitch for us, I knew he wasn’t ready. He had natural skill that needed sculpting, but his loan was exactly what he needed. If handled properly, I can see Welbeck fitting in with us, and producing.

I’d love to see us pick up a proven striker, a la Diego Forlan, but that seems unlikely. In the absence of getting someone new, I feel like we could rely on Rooney and Hernandez, as we did in the 2^nd half of the last season. I feel like Berbatov and Rooney do pair well together. In each instance involving Rooney, I feel like dropping back and spreading the field works best for us. Hernandez is more of a natural, in-front-of-goal scorer, so Rooney could drop more. With Berbatov’s languid style, I feel like Rooney would need to be more aggressive in and around the box. As far as the other options, I feel like Kiko and Welbeck (and even Owen) are our best bets with what we have available to us. I feel like Welbeck could pair with Rooney best because Rooney has the experience and ability to distribute. Welbeck and Hernandez are bit too inexperienced and I feel like they couldn’t link up as well without someone like Rooney there playmaking. Kiko is a natural scorer in and around the box. He needs to play it cool and calm, not get too anxious to score. The goals will come. Whatever option we choose, SAF will best know how to get the most from each player, as always.

Lastly, I should also note that in the absence of getting someone up front, our additions to the midfield, even without adding anyone else, could really link up well with our front line. We saw Young on the left against New England and a good game he did have. My issue, as I tweeted, is that he has no left foot. While Nani wasn’t too good last year on the left, I might give him another spell there and move Young to the right (Valencia, too). With a much better 2^nd half of the season, I’m hoping Carrick shows up and holds our MF with someone like Fletcher or Anderson (if he’s fit). If it holds, our flanks will be able to work with the front line of Rooney, Hernandez, Berbatov, Welbeck, or Kiko to create some decent forward-thinking offense. Or, we could try to find another 6 million pound steal from Mexico. Or, if that fails, we could just blame Darron Gibson.

Follow Jason on Twitter at  @JasTheDevil

Our Wild Ride - United's Quest for a 19th Title

(Written May 17th, 2011)

Unlike Rob or Peter or many United fans, I cannot, and will not, claim to be a lifelong Manchester United supporter. I’ll be 30 this year and growing up in the United States didn’t make it easy to follow football overseas. It wasn’t until about 3 or 4 years ago, maybe later, that the PL was regularly broadcasted stateside. The proliferation of the Internet has made it increasingly accessible in the last few years, but getting behind a team in the early 1990’s was almost impossible, especially if no one in your family had ever played the sport. At the age of five, I started playing. I’ve played it and loved it ever since. We’ve become a football family. My Pops knows everything there is to know about the sport and is a huge PL fan. A Liverpool fan, but a supporter nonetheless. My brother grew up watching me play and he also started playing. It was the only sport that he ever really played and his high school team was one of the best in the state. Sadly he, too, is a Liverpool fan.

So, people have asked where my love for United came from and as cliché as it may sound, it came from David Beckham. Even without regular access to the PL, everyone knew who he was in the 90’s. So, I chose to become a fan. It has grown exponentially each season, to the point where United trumps everything else. And I do mean everything. Fans can understand the feeling. All this being said, I might look at the seasons, and rivalries, just a little different than most, but I do truly understand the plight, and severity, of being a United fan through and through. With that history, here are my thoughts on our record-breaking season, one diehard Devil fan to another…

I remember the title race officially coming down to the last game of the season last year and it ate me up that it was Chelsea. We won our last game pretty handedly and so did Chelsea. In fact, they thumped Wigan and left Drogba on the pitch so he could steal the Golden Boot from Wayne Rooney who truly deserved the accolade after almost single-handedly carrying the team on his back. Ronaldo was gone. Tevez was gone. Everyone gave us no shot. Kind of like this year. So, when this season started, and Chelsea were ahead early, my already boiling hatred turned into the fire of the Earth type of hate. They hit a spell of terrible games and it turned into a two-horse race between us and Arsenal, until the end.

Right around that time, we all went through the Rooney saga. Within a few days, he signed an extension, something that I had openly predicted he’d do – even after speculation that City had already taken thousands of orders for the new Wayne Rooney kit. For most of the season, Rooney was put out to dry, and his form dictated so. His extramarital affair and performance at the World Cup carried through Rooneygate, so that did him no favors. It was also around this time that we lost Antonio Valencia to a horrific injury, one many equated to the Ramsey or Eduardo injury from seasons past. His return was immediately shelved until next season. Amongst it all though, we continued to roll on undefeated. It became the elephant in the room until we finally lost at Wolves. It was a long time coming, especially given how poorly we played away from Old Trafford all season.

Through all of it, we maintained our lead at the top, but many were just waiting for our self-implosion. From the beginning of the season, no one gave us a real shot. Our team wasn’t good enough. Our MF had too many holes. No one was going to step up in Rooney’s absence and take the reigns. But just as all this was happening, the Bulgarian hero, Dimitar Berbatov, came riding in on his white horse to rescue us. Nani followed suit and both these players carried us through to 2011, lead in tact. There are a few players who deserve to be our Player of the Year, and Nani is definitely one of them. Then, the beginning of 2011 saw some more rough away matches, but it also saw some gritty come-from-behind away matches (Blackpool and West Ham). It also saw the reemergence of Wayne Rooney as a playmaker and the explosion of our 6 million pound Mexican, Javier Hernandez. From his awkwardly scored goal against Chelsea in the Community Shield, to his perfectly placed first minute goal against Chelsea at Old Trafford two weeks ago, Hernandez has been, for me, our Player of the Year. The kid scores goals, which found Berbatov, a club servant for most of the year, sitting on the bench over the last three or four months. Valencia returned to action and played a vital role in many matches. Ji-Sung Park, either playing in Asia or injured, returned to provide key games for us. Ryan Giggs is ageless and has showed that a million times this season. My favorite player of all-time. And Vidic. There’s not much to say about the man that hasn’t already been said – he’s a monster. And keep in mind, with all the issues we’ve had this season, with injuries, poor away form, absent MF, Rooneygate, Valencia out, etc – we’ve also still managed to make it to the Champions League Final.

Amongst all of the turmoil and doubt we’ve gotten from just about every angle this season, our team has pulled through and shown what it is to be Champions. Fergie has, yet again, done a masterful job of putting out a team that will always challenge for a win. And, if nothing else, we’ve learned not to ever question his selection – Giggs at left back?? All these obstacles that we’ve had to face – with the squad of players that no one gave a chance – have made winning our 19^th title even sweeter. Since becoming a United fan, I’ve learned of the history and rivalry between us and Liverpool. And since my dad and brother are both diehard Liverpool fans, it makes it that much better to leapfrog them. This season has been one of the craziest, most gut wrenching, nail biting, heavily drinking induced seasons that we’ve had. In the end, though, look what we have to show for it. A glorious 19^th title. Oh, and don’t forget we play in the Champions League Final. A predicted trophyless year could end up being a Double. I’d say that it’s been a damn good season.

Follow Jason on Twitter at  @JasTheDevil

Nani, Are You Okay? - FA Rules Need Overhaul

(Written March 16th, 2011)

We are in an age of sports where instant replay is much more than just what highlight reels are made of. Many major sports have started using video replay and using it to make sure that the outcome of games isn’t left to chance. With that said, I have enjoyed the fluidity of football and how, in its pure form, it’s two halves of 45 minutes. Baseball games normally last more than three hours, but many times they’re longer than that. Hockey has two intermissions and constant video replay. NFL games last over three hours and have a million stoppages in play, even without the use of replay. In the last year, we’ve seen a tennis match last for two days. Although there is more fluidity in tennis, there is still no time limit to how long a match can last. My point here, however, is that, when used properly, video replay is something that will only help the sport of football. And, while you may think I’m talking about video replay for goal-line technology or for other in-match decisions, I’m actually talking about the use of video replay in association with post-match decisions. Now, I know that the FA uses video replay to review matches when dealing out suspensions (see: Rio Ferdinand or Wayne Rooney), but I’ve long felt that the FA is too antiquated with their rules and regulations. I have many opinions on many rules that I feel need revision, but the purpose of this post is to address the use of video replay when addressing player suspensions.

When pitches are 100 yards long and about 70 yards wide, three officials can’t see everything, even when they are looking right at it. Today we saw the disparity in UEFA rules and FA rules (Gattuso ban vs. SAF ban), so the need for revision seems pretty apparent to me, especially in the arena of video replay. When there are a million different things happening on the football pitch at once – on and off the ball – the FA should understand that using the power to punish culpable culprits isn’t taking the power out of the referees’ hands, it’s distributing power in order to uphold the honor of the game of football. We know that the FA has an overwhelming tendency to favor certain teams, managers, and players – and that’s for another article – but, their rules basically put all the responsibility on the referees, which I don’t think is fair. I have been calling for goal-line technology or end-line referees with the masses for years, and by not allowing it, governing bodies (FA included) are essentially wiping their hands clean of punishing players, coaches, or teams for things that the refs may not have seen.

I’m not condoning any player or action, this includes Manchester United players. Wayne Rooney’s elbow on James McCarthy was malicious and petty. Regardless of what has happened (or not happened) to players who have done similar things (Hello, Steven Gerrard), Rooney should have been suspended. There is absolutely no room in this beautiful game for things like that. I feel like footballers, and the game of football, should, and is, held to a higher standard than other sports. So, it should be fair all the way around. In Rooney’s circumstance, the FA ruled that the referee dealt with it on the field, which isn’t true. Had the ref seen the blatant elbow, Rooney would have seen red. Same thing happened with Rio a few years ago, except the FA knew the ref hadn’t dealt with it on the field and suspended Ferdinand. Now, on the flip side, I don’t think that Carragher’s tackle on Nani was dealt with properly. Game speed is different than replay speed, and on second look, the malicious tackle deserved more than a yellow card. Nani, as we all know, is prone to overreaction and I feel like that impeded the overall judgment of the referee. That’s not fair to Nani, or any other player for that matter. In the same game, we saw Suarez reach out and pull Rafa’s hair. He also escaped reprimand.

This is where the FA needs to step in and deal out appropriate punishment. A devil’s advocate would argue that this would open the floodgates when dealing with a million incidences on the pitch. My counter would be that in adopting a new policy, there would be stipulations about teams’ request for reviews or their appeals.  All the small print would work itself out, but the bottom line is that in order to keep the beautiful game beautiful, the FA should exercise the right, and power, to review things that the ref may or may not have seen. It’ll prevent off-the-ball elbows or cheap shots. It’ll make sure that calls made on the field are correct. It’ll make sure that the players understand that just because they escaped a match without a booking, doesn’t mean they won’t get one when they get home.

Follow Jason on Twitter at  @JasTheDevil

Invisible to Almost Invincible - United Look For a 19th Title

(Written February 18th, 2011)

Now that the unbeaten streak has finally been called what it was – the elephant in the room – and we’ve had that wonderful burden lifted from our shoulders, we can focus on the last third of the season. I remember back in October when Chelsea was atop the table by five points – and we were throwing away leads, not getting away wins – most people chalked it up to the weak side we had this season. The saga with Rooney came and went, but his form from last season never returned. He hasn’t been even half of his former self, which posed many problems considering he almost singlehandedly kept us in the title chase last year.

What happened after October has been nothing short of amazing. Berbatov became a scoring machine and Nani became our best player outright. Even though we were throwing away leads and dropping two points each away match, we still managed to leap frog Chelsea and Arsenal to top of the table. When it almost became comical to drop points, fans clung to the “well, we’re still unbeaten” motto. For me, that wasn’t good enough. Just three or four wins from those draws – even with the rest as losses – would have us a good ten points clear heading into the final part of the season. But, now that we’ve proven we’re not invincible, what’s next? Lots of grit and hard play, that’s what.

We know that Arsenal bottle it most seasons, but lately I feel like we can’t assume that will happen. I know Barcelona seemed to give up at the end of their Champions League tie, but the result had Arsenal 2-1 over, arguably, the best team in the world. They are four points behind us and we’re level on games. Our derby win over City was not only emotional, but we saw Rooney galvanize the crowd at Old Trafford and just about cement his status as a United legend. Say what you will about his transgressions over the last 6 months, you can’t deny how hard he’s worked for our club (regardless of goal tally) and his derby winner will go down as one of the best ever. And while we were all on a high rivaled by no chemical substance, we need to look at the upcoming fixtures and be resolute and determined. Four points clear of Arsenal, eight points clear of City (with a game in hand), ten clear of Spurs, and twelve clear of Chelsea.

People say they can’t see us giving up the title, but back in October when Chelsea was slaughtering teams at will, no one saw them giving up the title this season. What’s important to point out about our lead is that we have the tougher remaining schedule. Our postponed match with Chelsea is in two weeks, then we see them again at home near the end of the season. We’re still in the Champions League (and FA Cup), which is great, but that presents more matches to be weary of and get weary from. We also visit Arsenal, Liverpool, and the unpredictable Hammers & Magpies.

With all these matches coming up, I hope the derby win and iconic goal from Rooney will create a scoring monster for the rest of the season. I hope that Berbatov can be as brilliant as he has been for the first two-thirds of a season. I hope Nani remains our playmaker and best player. I hope we get our back four healthy and running. There is a lot of hoping, but what once seemed impossible is now only twelve games away. When that 19^th title comes to Old Trafford, we’ll look at the roller coaster campaign, laugh, maybe cry, and ultimately know that Fergie has, once again, proven why he’s the best manager in football history.

Follow Jason on Twitter at  @JasTheDevil

Mickey Mouse Cup? - United Drubbed by West Ham

(Written November 30th, 2010)

Some people call it the Mickey Mouse Cup. Others call it the Reserves Cup. Whatever it’s called, United were drubbed 4 nil by West Ham, a team that look destined to be relegated at the end of this EPL campaign. At times, it’s unbelievable that West Ham somehow manage to stay up each season, but they do usually provide some good football performances here and there. Tonight was no doubt one of their only shining moments in a season where they’ve been paltry, at best.

After our 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn on Saturday, many expected the form to continue and that we’d come home from Upton Park with another Carling Cup win. To be completely honest, performances like ours on Saturday are typically followed by a falling out in the next match. This Tuesday, it just so happened to be against West Ham. Winners of the previous two Carling Cup trophies is something they can put in the history books, but does the League Cup really mean that much? Some argue that it does. Others argue that it’s nothing more than extra matches and meaningless silverware.

I will admit that in a season where we won nothing of significance – last year – there was a part of me that liked the fact that we had the Carling Cup. But, that’s really what it was – mere consolation for winning nothing else. In my honest opinion, while it would’ve been nice to keep winning and stretch our unbeaten record to another weekend, I’m not going to lose sleep over this loss. It’s pretty impressive that our first loss of the season has come in December, right? That’s not too shabby, if I’m being honest.

The match wasn’t pretty to watch, especially the part where West Ham – a side who has only scored 14 goals in the 15 games during EPL play – brushed our defenders aside to net 4 goals. Big up to them for winning handily on their home pitch, but I contest that this loss gave us more perspective than a win would have. If you look at the stats, there is no way that West  Ham outplayed us by a 4-goal margin, but they did net when it mattered. Fergie has fielded similar teams in the other Carling Cup matches and we’ve fared pretty well. Tonight just happened to be different. There isn’t much you can take away from a 4-goal loss, but I’ve singled out a few.

First and foremost, it is only the Carling Cup. We fielded a team full of reserves, most notably the four in the back. We didn’t have any starting defenders – a defense that many United fans, including myself, are confidently content with – until Rafa came on for his brother. But only after the damage was done. The Carling Cup is nothing more than an obligation at this point. You can see the attendance numbers for these games. Fans don’t much care about it – unless their team is not in contention to win any other silverware. Ahem, West Ham.

Secondly, we got served a piece of humble pie. A loss like this is always good for a little perspective, because you can’t win every single match. If we had drawn or won, everyone would still be pointing at the unbeaten streak. At some point, that would turn into a number that everyone would dwell on. It’s over and done with. We’re not unbeaten any longer. Let’s move on.
Thirdly, and I don’t know about you, but as the season drags on, people are going to get injured and pick up nicks. We’re already an injury-riddled team, so not having to play a few more Carling Cup matches, regardless of if it’s a reserve team or not, is something that will help our depth. We are atop the Prem and are about through to the Champions League knock-out stage. That’s more important than a Carling Cup trophy.

Fourth, we got to see more idiosyncrasies about our players. Evans is an enigma that I still can’t figure out. I’d say loan him out, but if something happens with our defenders, we’d have no one else to step in. O’Shea proved, yet again, that there is no place for him in our squad. I’m sorry if you don’t agree, I just can’t see it. However, Anderson played well…again. It’s been a long time coming, but all the hype (something I never bought into) is now getting presented out on the pitch.  Fletcher is struggling for form and Giggs had an off night. We could go round and round with Bebe and his “raw” ability, but I won’t do that. In the end, Fergie got some insight and perspective.

So, Saturday is Blackpool, a very dangerous side as it turns out. I don’t know about you, but I’d be surprised if United turn in a display against the Tangerines like they did against the Hammers. Regrouping will happen at Carrington mid-week, things will get sorted out, and come game-time on Saturday, I have faith that our Reds will be ready to take three points back to Old Trafford. And, at this point, I’m taking three points in the EPL over a win in the Carling Cup.

Follow Jason on Twitter at  @JasTheDevil